Wednesday, 15 May 2013

Music enthusiasts are in for a treat

Musicians and music enthusiasts are in for a
treat as the Irish Chamber Orchestra joins forces with the National Chamber Choir
of Ireland for the Steeplechase Tour. This musical tour which is kindly
sponsored by Barry’s Tea will take place in iconic churches in Limerick (St.
Mary’s Cathedral), Cork (St Fin Barres Cathedral) and Dublin (Monkstown Parish
Church) on the 16, 17 and 18 May respectively.

“The Irish Chamber Orchestra
is very excited about the upcoming tour which is also the ICO’s first tour of
2013. The programme offers a unique blend of choral and symphonic classic
sounds by Mozart, Bach, Pärt and Piston. It is a great coup to have maestro
Nicholas Kraemar leading this musical showcase,” said Maurice Healy, Director
of the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

“We particularly wanted to
bring the Steeplechase Tour to Cork, to the stunning setting of St. Finbarre’s
Cathedral and its unique acoustics will ensure that the Cork event is a truly
spectacular musical feast”.

The Irish Chamber Orchestra,
which is renowned for its energy, unique sound and outstanding musicianship,
has a strong tradition of collaborating with international musicians.

Maestro Nicholas Kraemer has
a wealth of musical knowledge and expertise and is permanent guest Conductor of
the Manchester Camerata and principal guest Conductor of Music of the Baroque,
Chicago and has performed with orchestras from the four corners of the globe.

Walter Piston’s Prelude and
Allegro for organ was commissioned for CBS TV in the 1940’s. The solemn Prelude
depicts the tragedy of World War II and the Allegro, the determination to win
it. When Bach moved to Hamburg, he
adopted a lighter style of writing and composed his Hamburg Symphonies. Many of
his most characteristic touches can be found in Symphonies 4 & 5.

The Irish Chamber Orchestra
and National Chamber Choir of Ireland perform the ground-breaking settings of
Estonian composer, Arvo Pärt – a deeply
spiritual composer who found his own musical language with a love of every note
at its heart. Luke 5’s Gospel was
adapted by him and the slow moving, ethereal reflective song entitled Which was
the Son of, evolves. This is
particularly likable as it establishes a repetitive mantra in the elaboration
of Jesus’s family-tree. Silhouan’s Song
is another deeply spiritual piece based on psalms written by an elder at a
local monastery. ‘My soul yearns after
the Lord’ speaks from the very opening of wintry European landscapes, cold and
unforgiving, in a prayer by the lonely soul.

Finally, Mozart’s popular
Missa Brevis in G major (KV 275), is known for its sublime lyricism and
grace. It reflects a youthful composer,
and the Irish Chamber Orchestra alongside the National Chamber Choir ring out
its joyful tones.

Tickets are currently on sale
at €20 for general admission, 10 for students and concessions at €18.